Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

All Aboard Florida

Still waiting. A pair of Republican lawmakers have yet to receive an adequate explanation from the Florida Development Finance Corporation about its approval of a $600 million private equity bond application for All Aboard Florida. The rail project is seeking to offer passenger service from Miami to West Palm Beach with the possibility of future service to Orlando. In 2015, the FDFC approved the issuance of $1.75 billion in bonds for All Aboard Florida, a move that led Martin and…

Two Republican lawmakers are still waiting for a response from the Florida Development Finance Corporation about its approval of a $600 million private equity bond application for All Aboard Florida. The rail project is seeking to provide passenger service from Miami to West Palm Beach and, eventually, service to Orlando. FDFC approved the issuance of $1.75 billion in bonds for All Aboard Florida back in 2015, but Martin and Indian River counties brought forward a suit alleging that the project…

With the fatal crash of Tesla car on autopilot near Williston in May, Floridians already know the future of transportation is impacting the state’s highways. Exploration of that future will be one of the themes when the 2016 Floridians for Better Transportation Summit meets Tuesday and Wednesday at the Loews Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach. “Transportation is transformative. It has the power to fuel the economy, stimulate job creation and change the way we live,” said Floridians for…

Gov. Rick Scott has approved a repeal of a 148-year-law that criminalizes an unmarried couple living together. The measure legalizing “cohabitation” (SB 498) was one of 20 bills signed into law by the governor on Wednesday. The change is largely a reflection of the times: Though Florida was among a few states that still criminalized cohabitation, its prohibition was essentially unenforced. Technically, a man and woman living together but not married could have been fined $500 and locked up for 60 days. There are almost…

The stack bills on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk just keeps getting higher. The Florida Legislature sent 20 bills — including ones to repeal the state’s ban on cohabitation, legislation to allow All Aboard Florida riders to drink beer on trains and a bill to create the Florida Holocaust Memorial — to Scott on Tuesday. The Naples Republican now has until April 6 to act on the legislation. Among the proposal now on the governor’s desk is a bill (SB 498)…

Future riders of All Aboard Florida would be allowed a tipple as they wait for a train under legislation moving in the Legislature. The already-approved Senate bill (SB 698) was passed by the House Friday on a 115-1 vote, with only Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant opposed. The House added some changes, though, sending it back to the Senate. The alcoholic-beverage omnibus bill permits booze to be sold on All Aboard Florida trains and in its transit stations. The idea is that restaurants,…

Today on Context Florida: San Francisco-based attorney Scott Weese is resigning from the Republican Party. The GOP has finally gone too far, he says, and at this point he sees nothing of what he believes in any of the viable presidential candidates. The front-runner’s campaign slogan of “Heil Trump” is simply the last straw. Weese says he cannot understand how anyone can threaten the rights of anyone on the basis of their religion. To threaten to intimidate them for their worship,…